Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball, proving that all the power conference programs that overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA in his home state.
Smith is headed to the Pacers after the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded Smith’s draft rights to Indiana. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Smith was swapped for Kam Jones, future pick swaps and cash.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey, and is now part of a group of 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers:
Braden Smith with Purdue basketball
Before capping a career that included two Big Ten regular-season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, and helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he was also the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249), and had the three top assist seasons in school history, which helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
What Braden Smith brings to the Indiana Pacers
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never shies away from the dirty work, which can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while he tries to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: What Purdue basketball’s Braden Smith brings to Indiana Pacers
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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By Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
